Discharge outlet and closure assembly



July 21, 1953 DQREY DISCHARGE OUTLET AND CLOSURE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Dec. 24, 1948 i T i HVK- n 7 u w u m m E u m u in n u u M d w"I,

II. HWIHIIIHMHIIIHFIIII I I" III \r ll' l I l I l I I ll d July 21,1953a. B. DOREY 2,646,006

DISCHARGE OUTLET AND CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet5 WW Mr (if-nun:

//v VEN 70/ GEORGE E. DOREY Patented July 21, i953 UNITED STATES P ENT-OFFICE DISCHARGE OUTLET AND CLOSURE ASSEMBLY George B. Dorey, Westmount,Quebec, Canada, assignor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 24, 1948,Serial No. 67,215

My invention relates, generally, to the convide an assembly including adischarge outlet frame and a co-operating sliding closure havingauxiliary sealing means around the edges thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a frame and closureassembly in which auxiliary sealing .means are employed to supplementthe sealing security normally provided by the weight of the closure andlading resting upon runways.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved, simple andeffective means for retaining a sliding closure in a definitely closedposition.

My invention further resides in certain other details of constructionsuch as will-be pointed out hereinafter.

For further comprehension of my invention reference may be had to theaccompanying draw-, ings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of an outlet assembly embodying myimprovements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan: view of the outlet frame proper illustrating theframe shown in Fig. 1 except that the sliding closure and associatedparts are omitted;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of theoutlet frame shown in Fig. 1, saidview being partly sectional and partly an end view as taken on a line 44ofFig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the'closure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the closure on a line66 of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along aline 1-! of Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a fractional elevational sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken on a'line 8-8 of Fig. 1 and showing the sealing gasket in contactwith the rear wall of the frame;

Fig. 9 is a fractional elevational sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken on a line 9--9 of Fig. 1 and showing the sealing gasket in contactwith the under surface 'of the upper wall 10 Claims. (01. 105-282)'struction of hopper closures and it has particuof the slot at the frontsloping .wall of the frame;

and A Fig. 10 is afractional elevational. sectional view. on an enlargedscale taken on a line 10-46- of Fig. 1 and showing thesealing gasket incontact with the surface of the adjacent sidewall of the frame. a I

In said drawings my improvements are shown as applied to an outletassemblyofthe conven tional type including a frame A, a sliding closureor gate B having a series of rack teeth H) on the underside thereof, andshaft and pinion means C co-operablewith the said teeth [0 for movingthe gate lengthwise. The frame A includes an upper attaching portionincluding side. sloping Walls H-H and end sloping walls [2 and til, thelatter being slotted at M for accom modating the Sliding closure.therethrough. The end sloping wall I2 and the side sloping walls H--l Ilead downwardly to substantially vertical wall sections l5 and 16-46,the latter being disposed in substantially parallel relation andoperating as guides between which the edges of the side walls of theclosure B are guided andthe movement of theclosure restricted to a rec-;tilinear movement.

Extending inwardly from the said walls I5 and 16-46, as shownin Figure3, are substantially horizontally disposed side and end runways asindicated at 11 and [8 respectively on which the closure B is arrangedto have sliding at 23. The wall2 I, which is located at-the outer end ofthe outlet, includes a horizontal ledge.

: in the form of an upper wall 24, a downwardly inclined section 25 anda vertically disposed lowersection26. t;

The walls l9;l9 are disposed slightly out of parallelism divergingoutwardly towards. the slotted-end of the outlet whereby said respectivewalls l9 l9 in combination with the end walls 20 and 2| present asubstantially. wedge shaped four sided dischargeopening; The lowerportion of :the frame A is provided with outwardly laterally extendingportions. includin a flange 2 1 on two adjacent sides and a horizontally disposed groove 28 on the twootlier adja- 3 cent sides, saidflange and groove being for the purpose of receiving and holding aremovable spout structure for directing lading away from the outletframe.

The sliding closure B which is mounted for movement on the runwaysurfaces I1 and I8 is extended beyond the longitudinally extending siderunways I! of the frame-and through the slot I4. The upper wall of theslot I4 slopes upwardly and outwardly as at 29, Fig. 2, to provide aWedge shaped flared mouth for the slot l4.

The outer end of the closure B is provided with a groove 30, Fig. 9,extending throughout its entire Width to form, in combination withvertical Wall 3 I a pocket for receiving a resilient deformable gasket32, which is bolted or otherwise-secured to the gate at 33. Said gasketis arranged to jam in the flared mouth of the slot 14 when the closureis forced home and thus effectively to seal the opening through theframe A at the outer-edge thereof. H

The closure B is stepped, Fig. 7, to provide a main upper section 34resting on the runways l1 and I3 and a lower section 35 inset in theframe or chute A. The inset portion 35 corresponds in shape to theinterior wedgeshaped contour presented by walls [9 and 20 of the frame Aand includes side and end. depending walls 36 and 31, Fig. 5, andoutwardly of immediately adjacent said Walls. 36' and 3'! the upper mainsection 34 is formed with grooves 38. Said walls 36 and 3'! of the gate.are spaced away from the interior face of the walls of the frame A toaccommodate tubular shaped gaskets 39 and 49 which are preferably boltedto the associated walls 36 and 3'! as indi cated at 4|. The walls 3636diverge outwardly towards the slot M in the frame A-so that they areparallel to the walls i9l 9 respectively and provide a Wedge shapedsection on the closure B.

The respective gaskets 39 and 40 preferably meet in mitered relation andcombine toform a wedge shaped resilient deformable binding around threesides of the lower inset section 35-of the closure. The outer ends ofthe side gaskets 39 are extended to intersect and have bearing contactwith the end gasket 32. I

The extent of divergence of the side gaskets 39 is indicated at 42,'Fig.5.' The wedging structure on the closure or gate B, as presented by theouter surfaces of the expanded gaskets 39 and 40, is slightly largerthan the interior contour of the opening through the frame A in order toensure deformation of the'gaskets 39 when'theclosure or gate B is forcedhome to fully closed'position and thus provide a tight seal between thelower inset section 35 and the walls 19 and 29 of the frame A.

In order tosupport the closure or gate'B in open position, the closurestructure A is fitted with extension rails 43, Figs. 1 and 2, which aresecured to brackets 44 formed integrally with the frames The railsv 43are provided with upward extensions, the edge portions 45 of whichformabutments for co-operation with a locking element 46. The lockingelement 46, which is pivotally mounted on the closure at 41, extendsfrom side to side of the closure and isprovided at each end with anoperating 4 lug 48." This locking mechanism is claimed indivisional'application Serial No. 310,203, filed September 18, 1952.

The means for moving the closure longitudinally includes the rack teethII] in co-operation with the shaft and pinion means C. The pinion whichis indicated at 49, is non-rotatablymounted on the shaft 53 and thelatter is preferably of rectangular shape and fitted with bushings 51whereby it is rotatably mounted in bearings 52 of the frame A. Anysuitable handle may be employed for rotating the shaft 50.

The rack teeth [0 are disposed centrally of the closure and eachalternate tooth is extended across the closure B as indicated at 53,Fig. 5, to unite integrally with the depending side walls 36. of theinset section 35.

The function of the gaskets, 32, 39 and 49 as wil1 be understood, is toprovide sealing security in addition to that normally provided by suchsealing contact that is obtained by the weight of the closure B andlading resting upon the runways i'l.

Upon movement of the closure B in a closing direction, the side gaskets33 impinge on the divergently disposed side walls l9 of the chute andthey are compressed, thus ensuring tightly fitting seals. Movement ofthe closure B being con tinued in a closing direction operates tocompress gasket-49 against the end Wall 29 of the frame A and alsooperates to jam the front gasket 32- in the wedged shaped opening to theslot i4.

Deformation of the gasket 32 within the confining limits of slot l4reacts upon the longitudinally disposed gaskets 39 in view of theintersecting contact between said respective members and thus operateseffectively to seal the outer end of the outlet.

At the junction of the end and side walls I9 and 29 there is a tendencyto fullness in the amount of gasket material displaced due to variationsin the size of the fillets 54 Fig. 3. In order to ensure that suchdisplacement will not react upwardly against the closure, a recessedchamber 55, Fig. 5, is provided in the upper section of the closure Adirectly above. each mitered joint between the gaskets 39 and 49.

It will be understood that the resilient nature of the gaskets 32, 39and 40 will tend to move the closure B outwardly in an openingdirection. Therefore I provide the locking and wedging means in the formof the pivoted locking element 46 to exert direct longitudinal pressureon the closure B for the purpose of lockin the same closed.

The gaskets 32, 39 and 40 are so located on the closure or gate B as tobe readily accessible for inspection and renewal. My invention, asdisclosed herein, further renders the possible interchange of closuresfrom one frame to another. This eliminates the necessity for closemachining andfitting of the parts entering into each individualassembly.

Since the gaskets 32, 39 and 40 are formed of resilient material, theyact to absorb shock between the closure or gate B and the frame A. Thisensures that the sealing engagement therebetween will be maintained andthe escape of lading, even when finely divided, will be prevented.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a railway car discharge outlet and closure assembly for locationon the underside of said car, in combination, a frame having a foursided discharge opening defined in part by side walls divergingoutwardly to present a wedge shaped opening therebetween, a runway aboveeach side wall, a sliding closure mounted for lengthwise movement abovesaid walls on said runways, said closure having a wedge shaped sectionon its underside extending in thespa-ce between the divergently disposedsidewalls of the frame to cooperate therewith uponmov'ement of theclosure to closed position.

2. In a railway car discharge outlet and closure assembly for locationon the underside of said car, in combination, a foursided dischargeopening defined in part by side walls diverging out-' a wedge shapedsection associated with said closure and positioned between thedirverging side walls of the frame to cooperate therewith on movementof"the closure to closed position, and gaskets interposed between saidrespective side walls of the frame and closure.

3. In a railway car discharge outlet and closure assembly for locationon 'the'underside of said car, in combination, a frame having a foursided discharge opening defined in part by an end wall and a pair ofside walls, saidside walls leading outwardly from the respective ends ofthe end wall and diverging outwardly to form a wedge shaped opening, asliding closure having an upper section mounted for sliding movementabove said diverging walls and having a lower wedge shaped inset sectionlying in the plane of said end and side walls, said lower wedge shapedsection having an end wall and side walls respectively disposed inparallelism with'the end and side walls of the frame and lying adjacentthereto when the closure is in closed position, and resilient deformablegaskets carried by said end and side walls of the lower section forengagement with the frame;

4. In a railway car discharge outlet and closure assembly for locationon the underside of said car, in combination, a frame and slidingclosure therefor, said frame having a four sided discharge openingincluding side and end Walls, one of said end walls having a slottedaperture and the side walls leading from the ends of the end wallopposite to the aperture in divergent relation to present a wedge shapedopening having its greatest width adjacent the aperture, said slidingclosure extending through the aperture and having a wedge shaped sectionprojecting downwardly in the wedge shaped opening of the frame andformed with side and end walls arranged to cooperate with the side wallsof the frame and with the end wall of the frame opposite the apertureupon movement of the closure to closed position; and resilientdeformable gaskets interposedbetween said respective side and end wallsof the frame and closure.

5. In a railway car discharge outlet and closure assembly for locationon the underside of said car, in combination, a four sided frame havingan opening and a slidingly mounted closure for closing the opening, saidframe having at one end an aperture for the passage of the closuretherethrough and having at the end of the opening opposite to theaperture and at each side of the opening means for supporting theclosure when in closed position, said means including angularly relatedwalls including a wall underlying the closure and another wall extendingdownwardly from said underlying wall, said downwardly extending wallsadjacent the sides of the closure diverging outwardly towards theapertured end of the frame, a section formed on the underside of theclosure extending downwardly to lie adjacent the said downwardlyextending end and side walls of the frame, and resilient deformablegaskets interposed between said downwardly extending end and side wallsand the downwardly;

extending section of the-closure.

6; In a railway car discharge outlet and closure assembly for locationon the underside of said car in combination, a frame having a four sidedwedge shaped discharge opening defined'in part by an end wall and a sidewall adjacent each endof the. end wall, said walls being of appreciabledepth and said respective side walls diverging outwardly to form thewedge shaped.

opening, a sliding closure having an upper section mounted on said endand side walls,-said closure having a lower section of wedge shape:

projecting downwardly into said wedge shaped opening, said lowersectionhaving side and end walls lying adjacent to and in parallelismwith thedivergently related side walls, and resilient deformable gaskets securedto said end and side. walls of said lower section with the end and sidegaskets meeting in mitered relation, there being a cavityin the closureabove the mitered joint for accommodating such portions of the gasketsas may be displaced upwardly upon compression of the gaskets consequentupon the movement of the closure to closed position.

7. In a discharge outlet and closure in com--, bination, a frame havingan opening and a sliding closure for closing the opening, said frame,

. having at one end an aperture for the passage tween the closure andthe upwardly inclined upper surface of the aperture when the closure ismoved to closed position.

8. In a discharge outlet and closure assembly, in combination, a frameand sliding closure therefor, said frame having a four sided wedgeopening including side and end walls of appreciable depth, one of saidend walls being formed with a slotted aperture for the accommodation ofthe sliding closure therethrough, said frame adjacent the aperturehaving an outwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface, said side wallsextending outwardly from the ends of the end wall'opposite to theaperture in divergent relation to form the wedge shaped opening with itsmaximum width adjacent the apertured end of the frame, said closurehaving an upper section overlapping the side walls of the frame and alower wedge shaped section including side walls lying adjacent to and inparallelism with the diverging side walls of the frame, compressiblegaskets carried by said side walls of the lower section and movabletherewith for engagement with the diverging side walls of the frame uponmovement of the closure to closed position; and a compressible gasketextending transversely across the outer edge of the closure on the upperside thereof and located to contact the divergently related side gasketsin intendingwall forming a runway on .whichithez closure is mounted,each: said-runway: having a downwardly extending: Wall on the inner sidethereof. to form one of the walls of the opening and an upwardlyextending wall at the outer edge of said runway forming. a guide for thewalls, said upper section having the outer. edges thereof containedbetween and-guidedby the pair ofupwardly extending walls and said lowersection being of wedge shaped formation and arranged to cooperatewiththedivergently disposed walls of the frame on movement of; the

closure to closed position.

10. In a discharge outlet and closure assembly, in combination, a framehaving a foursided discharge opening defined bywalls of ap-i preciabledepth including side and end walls, said side walls being divergentlyrelated to provide a wedge shaped opening whereby one of the end wallsis longer than the other, there being an 8 aperture formed in the longerof the end walls, a sliding closure movably mounted above the side wallsand. projecting through said aperture, means for moving the closure,said closure having depending side walls projecting into the frame anddisposedadjacent to and in parallelism with the divergent side walls ofthe frame, and gaskets secured to the side walls of the closure forengagement with the side walls of the frame on movement of the closureto closed position.

GEORGE B. DOREY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,524,662 Layman Feb. 3, 1925 1,681,134 Ruth Aug. 14, 19282,069,739 Fildes et al Feb, 9, 1937 2,072,292 Campbell Mar. 2, 19372,099,289 Anderson Nov. 16, 1937 2,142,236 Campbell Jan. 3, 19392,145,174 Hankins Jan. 24, 1939 2,222,280 Batho Nov. 19, 1940 2,329,791Sevison Sept. 21, 1943 2,340,519 D'orey Feb. 1, 1944 2,386,702 McBrideOct. 9, 1945

